We are very happy that you are part of The Birches Academy. While a charter school is a public school, there are ways in which it differs which we would like to highlight. Your child’s education is of utmost importance to both you and us and so we want to make sure that we have a common understanding of The Birches Academy: A Public Charter School. We pledge our Mission and Core Values. We ask your understanding of the following in reaching our goals in order for the school to be successful.   

I understand that the connection between home and school is vital to my child’s success. I will help my child with homework, communicate with the school and staff, attend conferences and as many school functions as possible and support my child’s education in any way that I can. *
I understand that the fundraising goal of the school is between $60-$80,000 per year. The Birches Academy is a public school; there is no tuition required to attend The Birches. However, as a charter school, The Birches receives approximately only 40% of the state funding that other public schools receive. For this reason, there is a substantial fundraising effort required just to pay our operating costs including a yearly art fee and annual fund drive. While I need not participate in all of these fundraisers, it is important to know that helping the school monetarily in whatever way I can is part of participating in a charter school. *
I understand that The Birches Academy asks a commitment of twenty volunteer hours per family per year. Because of the funding formula for New Hampshire charter schools, The Birches Academy does not have the personnel or support that a more traditional public school has. In addition, it is part of our mission that we are a learning community. Part of your child’s success will come from your involvement. This involvement can take many forms and we will work together to find ways in which you can participate. *
I understand that The Birches Academy follows the Common Core standards with the arts used to support learning in the major subject areas. The Birches Academy participates in mandated state testing and performs its own assessments as well as a means to document growth. When making instructional decision regarding students, such as a placement in an advanced math class, we take into account the whole student which incudes but is not limited to the social and emotional needs of the student. *
I understand that I should make at least a one year commitment to the school The Birches is a choice and this choice works well for some students and may not be a match for others. Older, and even younger students may miss other friends. Sometimes, when learning gets difficult, students may want to change schools. This is always an option, but making at least a year’s commitment and sticking with it and decreasing the number of school transitions and the resulting curricular loss is important to the education and development of the child. *
I understand that all students at The Birches will play a musical instrument with a variety of choices available to the students as they get older. It is the parent’s responsibility to rent or purchase the instrument and music lessons take place at some point during the school day, sometime necessitating missing thirty minutes of one subject each week. For some students under some circumstances, voice can be an instrument of choice. Performances and concerts that often take place out of school hours are a required part of the music program. *
I understand that utilization of technology as a learning tool is very important for our twenty-first century students. While the school provides much of this technology in the form of smartboards, laptops, desk top computers and iPads, we ask that all students entering Grade 5/6 purchase their own iPad to be utilized through Grade 8 at The Birches Academy. *
I understand that The Birches Academy is a public school and our enrollment is open and determined by lottery. Students on Individual Education Plans are accepted when it is determined by the special education team that The Birches is a fit for their needs. We strive to meet the individual needs of all students. However, as a public school, we are bound by the same discipline policies that are mandated by law for all public schools. *
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